São Paulo State Ramps Up Film, TV Aid, Preps New On-Site Market

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As a dedicated cinephile, I’m thrilled about Brazil’s State of São Paulo’s ambitious stride towards cinematic dominance in South America. They’re unveiling an Audiovisual Industry Development Plan, which aims to transform São Paulo into a powerhouse in film and TV production. Key aspects of this plan include providing grants for movies produced through international collaborations and organizing the first São Paulo Audiovisual Hub event in July. This event is designed to grow into one of South America’s most significant film-TV markets.

The announcement of the new plan arrives as São Paulo businesses are making their mark internationally as creators of Brazilian content. For instance, RT Features, based in São Paulo, was behind Walter Salles’ “I’m Still Here,” Brazil’s first film to receive a nomination for Best Picture at the Oscars. Furthermore, Gullane, also from São Paulo, produced “Senna”, the largest production in Latin America so far, which debuted in November and spent six weeks in Netflix’s global top 10 of non-English series.

Under the leadership of Marília Marton, who serves as the secretary for culture, economy, and creative industries in São Paulo State, the Audiovisual Industry Development Plan is another key component that has been introduced.

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Marília Marton, as São Paulo State’s secretary for culture, economy, and creative industries, has brought forth the Audiovisual Industry Development Plan, which contributes to an already diverse mix of initiatives.

Following the Brazilian post-COVID recovery plan known as the Paulo Gustavo Law, an investment of approximately 378.2 million reais (equivalent to around 66 million US dollars) was made into the cultural sector within the state. This includes funding for film and television production.

In a conversation with EbMaster in Berlin, Marton expressed that the Paulo Gustavo Law was a one-time, exceptional funding source. However, after consulting with the sector, it has become clear that this initiative now requires ongoing, multi-year support to prevent instances of fluctuations and instability.

The first event of São Paulo Audiovisual Hub in early July will highlight a special showcase dedicated to the works of Paulo Gustavo, which were financed by law. This selection features projects like “100 Days” directed by Carlos Saldanha, known for his work on “Ice Age,” and “Technically Sweet” by André Ristum, based on an original screenplay by Michelangelo Antonioni.

At The Hub, you’ll find a variety of educational events such as lectures, hands-on workshops, advanced training sessions (masterclasses), and showings of different movies. Additionally, it will house restored and digitized pieces for your viewing pleasure.

Marton stated, ‘Brazil celebrates many festivals, yet its macro-industry market isn’t fully developed. This is an initial move.’

Moving ahead, the state plans to distribute 13 film projects a total of $4 million reais (approximately $700,000 USD each) as grants. Four of these titles are part of international co-productions. The aim is to produce fewer films with more financial resources, as Marton stated.

The state of São Paulo is planning to establish a film commission and a scriptwriting contest. They will be seeking screenplays from producers.

Over the course of Marton’s leadership, the audiovisual funding in Sao Paulo by 2025 is set to triple compared to what it was in 2022. There are undeniably favorable conditions on the horizon. Despite Brazil’s GDP growing a mere 1% from 2012 to 2020, its cultural economy and creative industries experienced an impressive surge of 15.5%. Remarkably, São Paulo accounts for a staggering 61% of this total growth. As an admirer, I can’t help but feel optimistic about the future of creativity in this vibrant city.

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2025-02-16 09:50